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Lexus unveils the LF-LC hybrid: Does it signal a new direction for the brand?

January 8, 2012

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Photo by MICHAEL SHUSTER

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Photo by MICHAEL SHUSTER

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Photo by MICHAEL SHUSTER

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Photo by MICHAEL SHUSTER

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Photo by MICHAEL SHUSTER

6 of 13Lexus sports coupe concept

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7 of 13Lexus sports coupe concept

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8 of 13Front fender of Lexus Detroit concept.

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9 of 13Grille and headlamp of Lexus concept.

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10 of 13Nose of the Lexus LF-LC concept for Detroit.

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11 of 13Grille and headlamp of Lexus concept.

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12 of 13Side view of the Lexus LF-LC concept for the Detroit auto show.

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13 of 13Side view of the Lexus LF-LC concept for the Detroit auto show.

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The grilles! Oh, the grilles! Like hourglasses pried from the bellies of obese, cybernetic black widows, Lexus's new grilles are proliferating across the line. We will say that it works better on the new GS than on the LX. And the one on the LF-LC concept might be the prettiest implementation of a design that's inspired controversy and debate among auto critics and marque aficionados.

The company's new dream car, conceived by Toyota's Calty design studio in Southern California, was conceived to illustrate that Lexus isn't merely about reliable luxury for the unimaginative. The brand wants to be seen, general manager Mark Templin said, as a purveyor of "emotional and inspirational products," focused on dynamics, economy and electronics; a concern "more than capable of creating emotional cars that people fall in love with." The LF-LC, then, is what the group at Calty thinks best embodies those values.

If it's not heart-grabbingly beautiful, it's certainly striking. Starting with a long-hood, short-deck GT silhouette is an easy move, reminiscent of both the LFA and the first-generation SC. Powertrain information was notably absent, other than the fact that the LF-LC was conceived as a hybrid. Whether that's a screaming, spitting V10 coupled to front-wheel electric motors or a semiheated V6 with some aggressive helping of hybrid-system torque is left to the imagination.

The detailing, however, is where the new Lexus concept shines. We were particularly taken with the taillights, which use thin, concentric light piping to mimic the look of a fighter jet's afterburner shockwave. The C-pillar is interrupted by an intrusion of glass. Each headlight resembles a triple-barreled cannon, though Lexus prefers to associate them publicly with cameras.

Inside, LCD screens are everywhere, with two 12.3-inch units mounted in the dash. The instrument-pod-mounted unit displays the usual driver-oriented metrics, while the other handles infotainment. However, information can stream between the two screens. There's also a console-mounted touch screen to handle input and two door-mounted screens to raise and lower the windows and adjust the seats.

It's certainly an attractive car, but is it emotionally resonant? We were left interested, possibly even mildly intrigued, but not overwhelmed. We're more curious as to whether the Lexus products in the pipeline will offer the level of driver involvement that Templin promises. Here's to hoping that assertion's more than a concept left on an auto-show stage.